The Band of the Armed Forces of Malta (AFM), formerly known as the Royal Malta Artillery Band (RMA Band), was established in the late 19th century (1890) yet it can trace its origins way back to the year 1800, when a band with fifes and drums formed part of the Malta Light Infantry Regiment. During the years 1939 to 1942, owing to the war circumstances, the band was put into suspended animation and its members served in support of the parent regiment, the Royal Malta Artillery. It was reformed in 1943.

The AFM Band was established in 1970 under the baton of Warrant Officer I Chircop Anthony. Today, the AFM Band which has a compliment of 43 musicians and is directed Warrant Officer 1 Jonathan Borg is the only specialised Band on the Island. The Band’s President is Colonel Mark Mallia AFM whilst the Band Secretary is Major Edric Zahra AFM.

As a Military Band, its primary role is to fulfil a range of commitments in support of the Armed Forces of Malta on numerous ceremonial occasions. Its wide repertoire ranges from military marches to classical and popular music. Besides their duties as bandsmen, the personnel also perform all military duties such as basic military training, internal security duties and much more.

Throughout the years, the band had various opportunities to participate in massed–band displays, Military Band Festivals and Tattoos organized by the British Army of the Rhine at Monchengladbach, Germany. On other occasions it was invited to participate in Cyprus and Sicily. In the last decade the AFM Band was invited for various military tattoos and festivals such as in Germany, Italy, Russia, Libya, Switzerland and Scotland.